[Resistance to vecuronium--a case report].

We observed that a female patient aged 52 undergoing elective surgery (microscopic laryngoscopy and laser resection) was markedly resistant to the action of the neuromuscular blocking drug vecuronium. During induction of anaesthesia with propofol and alfentanil no effect of neuromuscular relaxation was observed even after a total dose of more than 0.15 mg/kg vecuronium. Accelerography was used for monitoring neuromuscular function. Only with small doses of succinylcholine was clinically sufficient relaxation achievable. The patient had no drugs or diseases with known interaction on neuromuscular blocking agents, but a suspected hypothyroidism could be the reason for the resistance.